UK start-up chooses pre-owned fleet

A new independent powered access rental company in the UK is off to a flying start after investing in pre-owned equipment instead of brand new machines.

Scunthorpe-based Lincs Lifts is aiming to fill a gap in the market for a local, independent powered access supplier. The start-up has purchased 24 machines from used equipment specialist APS, including mid-sized diesel and electric booms, towable booms, slab scissors, mast booms and low level access platforms. Lincs Lifts founder, Wayne Grainger, aims to have a fleet of 100 units by the end of this financial year.

Mr Grainger said, “There is significant local demand in parts of Lincolnshire and Humberside for an independent alternative to the big rental companies.

“Buying high quality pre-owned machines from APS enabled us to acquire about twice as many access platforms as we could have done if we bought new kit. As a start-up, reaching critical mass quickly is vital and APS has helped us to do that. We are already profitable, have high utilisation rates and are being asked to quote for substantial jobs – all in all, a dream start for our business.”

APS, part of the IAPS Group, refurbished the machines at its workshop in Cambridgeshire and painted them in Lincs Lifts’ lime green livery. IAPS Group division IPS is supplying Lincs Lifts with a stock of spare parts, specifically tailored to the machines in its fleet.